California Department of Transportation

Trinity County – Caltrans today announced it has completed a $560,000 project
that will improve safety for motorists and pedestrians on State Route 299 in
downtown Weaverville. The project was funded primarily ($305,000) by President
Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

“My focus has been and continues to be ensuring that California gets the
maximum benefit from the Recovery Act. With the help of billions in stimulus
dollars, we’re putting people to work and building better roads, bridges, and
transit for Californians,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.

A popular tourist destination, Weaverville has heavy recreational and
pedestrian traffic during summer. Traffic enters the town from a rural two-lane
highway with a 55-mph speed limit, coming down a steep grade. In Weaverville’s
historic downtown, the speed limit drops to 25-mph. The steep downgrade coupled
with a sudden change from a rural highway to a busy “Main Street” often results
in vehicles speeding through downtown Weaverville. To enhance safety and promote
walking and bicycling, the project built new crosswalks, bike lanes, specially
marked highway islands, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and improved the
landscaping.

“Now that the project is complete, motorists can transition safely to lower
speeds as they enter downtown,” said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim. “With the
help of Recovery Act funding, we were able to make Weaverville’s historic
downtown a safer place for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.”